Counties 1 Essex

Counties 1 Essex
Current season or competition:
2025–26 Counties 1 Essex
SportRugby union
Instituted2022 (2022)
Number of teams12
Country England
HoldersBraintree (2024–25)
WebsiteCounties 1 Essex

Counties 1 Essex is an English level 7 rugby union regional league for rugby clubs in London and the south-east of England including sides from Essex and Greater London. Administration of the leagues is divided between Essex Rugby and the London & SE RFU.[1]

Braintree are the current champions.

Structure and format

The twelve teams play home and away matches from September through to April, making a total of twenty-two matches each. The results of the matches contribute points to the league as follows:

  • 4 points are awarded for a win.
  • 2 points are awarded for a draw.
  • 0 points are awarded for a loss.

In addition:

  • 1 losing (bonus) point is awarded to a team that loses a match by 7 points or fewer
  • 1 additional (bonus) point is awarded to a team scoring 4 tries or more in a match

There is one automatic promotion place and two relegation places. The first-placed team at the end of season wins promotion to Regional 2 Anglia. The last two placed clubs are typically relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

2025–26

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were Braintree, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia while Burnham-on-Crouch (11th) and Basildon (12th) were relegated to Counties 2 Essex.

2024–25

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were Wanstead, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia and Stanford-le-Hope relegated to Counties 2 Essex.[3][4] In their place came Burnham-on-Crouch (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (North)) and Basildon (promoted from Counties 2 Essex (South)).[5]

League table

Counties 1 Essex 2024–25
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1 Braintree (P) 22 18 0 4 756 298 458 17 2 92
2 Romford and Gidea Park 22 17 0 5 646 366 280 15 0 84
3 Maldon 22 16 1 5 776 538 238 14 3 83
4 Campion 22 16 0 6 719 462 257 17 1 82
5 Upminster 22 13 0 9 686 474 212 13 7 72
6 East London 22 12 0 10 625 523 102 11 4 63
7 Epping Upper Clapton 22 10 0 12 398 524 −126 8 3 53
8 Old Cooperians 22 7 2 13 375 580 −205 4 4 40
9 Chingford 22 6 0 16 370 670 −300 6 1 31
10 Mavericks 22 8 0 14 424 528 −104 10 2 29 −15
11 Burnham-on-Crouch (R) 22 4 0 18 329 788 −459 5 3 25
12 Basildon (R) 22 3 1 18 357 710 −353 4 6 24
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background are the relegation places.
Updated: 10 January 2026
Source:[8]

2023–24

Participating clubs and locations

Departing were Dagenham and Harlow, promoted to Regional 2 Anglia, and South Woodham Ferrers relegated to Counties 2 Essex (North).[9][10] In their place came Chingford (relegated from Regional 2 Anglia, Stanford-le-Hope and Maldon promoted from Counties 2 Essex.

League table

Counties 1 Essex 2023–24
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1 Wanstead (P) 22 20 1 1 745 159 586 13 1 99 +3
2 Braintree 22 17 0 5 797 362 435 16 3 88 +1
3 Epping Upper Clapton 22 15 1 6 575 440 135 13 2 78 +1
4 East London 22 13 0 9 575 453 122 12 2 66
5 Mavericks 22 11 1 10 458 463 −5 7 2 55
6 Romford and Gidea Park 22 10 0 12 494 581 −87 9 5 55 +1
7 Maldon 22 9 0 13 546 574 −28 9 4 49
8 Upminster 22 9 1 12 470 686 −216 7 3 48
9 Campion 22 9 0 13 467 487 −20 9 5 45 −5
10 Old Cooperians 22 6 0 16 401 550 −149 7 7 38
11 Chingford 22 7 0 15 336 684 −348 4 3 35
12 Stanford Le Hope (R) 22 4 0 18 413 838 −425 2 4 22
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background is the promotion place. Pink background is the relegation place.
Updated: 9 January 2026
Source:[11]

2022–23

Participating clubs and locations

This was the first season following the RFU Adult Competition Review. The league was substantially similar to London 3 Essex with the teams finishing 1st–10th returning. Kings Cross Steelers and Canvey Island, who finished 11th and 12th respectively, were placed in Counties 2 Essex. The line-up was supplemented by the addition of Wanstead and South Woodham Ferrers (who finished 10th and 12th in London 2 North East respectively).[12]

League table

Counties 1 Essex 2022–23
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points for Points against Points diff Try bonus Loss bonus Points Points deducted
1 Harlow (P) 22 22 0 0 1007 100 907 16 0 107 +3
2 Dagenham (P) 22 19 0 3 926 289 637 17 1 95 +1
3 Wanstead 22 16 1 5 570 309 261 9 1 77 +1
4 Braintree 22 13 1 8 539 497 42 9 3 67 +1
5 East London 22 12 1 9 630 664 −34 14 2 66
6 Campion 22 13 0 9 427 571 −144 8 3 63
7 Epping Upper Clapton 22 8 2 12 604 511 93 11 5 52
8 Romford and Gidea Park 22 6 0 16 412 554 −142 6 5 36 +1
9 Mavericks 22 8 0 14 331 563 −232 3 2 32 −5
10 Old Cooperians 22 8 0 14 344 539 −195 5 0 27 −5
11 Upminster 22 3 1 18 356 988 −632 3 2 19
12 South Woodham Ferrers (R) 22 1 0 21 195 756 −561 1 2 −8 -15
  • If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:
  1. Number of matches won
  2. Difference between points for and against
  3. Total number of points for
  4. Aggregate number of points scored in matches between tied teams
  5. Number of matches won excluding the first match, then the second and so on until the tie is settled
Green background are the promotion places. Pink background is the relegation places.
Updated: 8 January 2026
Source:[14]

Counties 1 Essex honours (2022–present)

Following the RFU Adult Competition Review, ten teams were transferred from London 3 Essex (a level eight league) to Counties 1 Essex.a level seven league. Promotion is to Regional 2 Anglia and relegation to Counties 2 Essex

Counties 1 Essex
Season No of teams Champions Runner-up Relegated teams Ref
2022–23 12 Harlow Dagenham South Woodham Ferrers (12th) [14]
2023–24 12 Wanstead Braintree Stanford Le Hope (12th) [11]
2024–25 12 Braintree Romford and Gidea Park Burnham-on-Crouch (11th) and Basildon (12th) [8]
Green background is the promotion place(s).

See also

References

  1. ^ "RFU League Statistics". L&SE RFU. Retrieved 9 August 2024.
  2. ^ "SEASON 24/25 FIXTURES FOR ALL TEAMS". East London RFC. 11 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Regional 2 Anglia 2024/25". Stowmarket RFC. 12 June 2024. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  4. ^ "2024/25 Counties 2 Essex fixtures confirmed". South Woodham Ferrers RFC. 15 June 2024. Retrieved 29 August 2024.
  5. ^ "First and Second teams both with their leagues!". Basildon RFC. 24 February 2024.
  6. ^ "SEASON 24/25 FIXTURES FOR ALL TEAMS". East London RFC. 11 June 2024.
  7. ^ "Malldon RFC Info". Maldon RFC. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
  8. ^ a b "1st Team". Romford & Gidea Park RFC. Retrieved 10 January 2026.
  9. ^ "Dagenham Rugby Club celebrate historic weekend". Barking & Dagenham Post. 13 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  10. ^ "Harlow Rugby Club seal glorious promotion with emphatic win". Your Harlow. 12 March 2023. Retrieved 20 August 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Counties 1 Essex".
  12. ^ "Dagenham RFC deliver big win at South Woodham Ferrers". Barking & Dagenham Post. 24 October 2022.
  13. ^ "Wanstead Rugby Club - Contacts".
  14. ^ a b "Counties 1 Essex". England Rugby.
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